It Costs You Nothing
When I was growing up in the suburbs of New York City, even though the world’s financial center has a reputation for rudeness, my parents frequently reminded me that I should be polite and respectful to everyone, no matter who they were. “It doesn’t cost you anything to be polite,” my mom used to say. Recently, I learned that there’s a Spanish phrase that’s related to this idea: “Lo cortes no...
Respectful Leadership: The Key to Boosting Employee Morale
This article originally appeared in Training Industry on April 10, 2023. You can access it directly here. If you’re like most people these days, you’re busy. Jumping from meeting to meeting, call to call, and email to text, with little time for chit chat or what are quaintly known as “the niceties.” Sometimes even the most common before-the-meeting question, “How are you?” will be skipped in...
How Coaches Can Help Their Clients Admit Biases About Co-Workers
Recently I was talking with another executive coach who asked me, “How do you get your clients to admit their biases about their co-workers?” That’s a good question. My first response was “very carefully.” When we’re calm, cool and not under threat, most of us will admit that we hold some negative biases about others. But usually, these are what I call “acceptable biases,” the ones most people...
Respect On Their Minds
This week I was invited to deliver a pre-keynote warmup and a workshop on respect at a large HR conference. Afterwards, many of the attendees approached me to share their stories and ask for help. Sadly, it appears that our extensive research is on target – today’s workplaces and employees are experiencing unprecedented levels of disrespect not only from customers and patients, but also from...
20 Consequences Of Promoting Leaders Who Lack People Skills
Gregg Ward was featured as a contributor to this Forbes Coaches Council article, read the full article on forbes.com. When someone rises to a leadership position, they are often expected to have both technical expertise and the ability to think strategically. However, what happens when an individual becomes a leader without demonstrating essential people skills? A leader who lacks soft skills...
Navigating the Turbulent Waters of Workplace Culture and Election Politics
Greetings, distinguished HR executives and leaders! It’s a pleasure to connect with you. I’m Gregg Ward, steering the ship at the Center for Respectful Leadership. Today, I’d like to draw your attention to a significant issue at hand — the 2024 elections casting a long shadow over the workplace. First, let me introduce our center, founded half a decade ago. Our mission: to...How To Create Psychological Safety And Inspire High-Performing Teams
Gregg Ward was featured as a contributor to this Forbes Coaches Council article, read the full article on forbes.com. In psychologically safe work environments, every team member feels confident sharing candid constructive feedback, voicing disagreements and taking ownership of their mistakes. Employees who feel they may face negative consequences for speaking up, on the other hand, will take...
The Leadership Link Between Courage & Respect
In the nuanced tapestry of leadership, the threads of respect and courage are intricately woven together, each amplifying the strength and effectiveness of the other. Leadership, at its core, is not just about making decisions and directing teams toward common goals; it’s about doing so in a way that fosters trust, encourages innovation, and builds a resilient organizational culture....
18 Effective Ways For Companies To Retain Their Top Talent
This article was originally featured on Forbes.com on February 14, 2024. You can read the full article here. Retaining top talent remains a crucial challenge for companies looking for sustained success in the year ahead. To meet the needs of the market, their customers and their workforce, organizations need to adopt innovative approaches that not only attract, but also help retain their most...